New Brew Thursday: 'Black Cat Sees All' from Long Live Beerworks

Personally, I am a big fan whenever breweries amp up or combine two of their featured beers. Obvious examples are 25% of Tree House (King Julius, Gggreennn, Super Sap, Very Hazy, etc.) and my favorite beer, ‘HeavyMettle’. However, when I was finally able to get my hands on Long Live’s ‘Black Cat Sees All’, a combination of the amazing ‘The All Seeing Eye’ and ‘Black Cat’, my expectations were high. Not only did this live up to those expectations, it is my new favorite beer from Long Live.

‘Black Cat Sees All’ pours into the glass a hazy, almost fluorescent yellow with a thick and bright white head. It has soft notes of melon, pineapple, and tropical fruit that all build off one another to delight the nose. The taste is exceptional. With a rich and luxurious mouthfeel that coats the entire palate it has a big juicy flavor profile with a soft, but building, bitterness that lingers on the front of the tongue after each sip. That bitterness then compounds with each subsequent sip. Despite clocking in at 8.5% ABV it is not overly boozy and you’ll be nearly done with the glass before you’ll start to feel it. ‘Black Cat Sees All’ is the perfect Long Live beer in every sense of the word.

New Brew Thursday: 'Bad Dudes 3000' from Long Live Beerworks and Buttonwoods Brewery

Where were you approximately one year ago? A loaded question for sure. For me, I was one of the lucky ones, I was not laid off and my commute was reduced to simply walking across the hallway from my bedroom to my home office. In those tumultuous times two arose, two “bad dudes” and now they have returned. Jokes aside, the amazing team up last year between two of Rhode Island’s best breweries, Buttonwoods and Long Live to create one of the best collaborations that lived up to their hype is nothing short of amazing. When they released the sequel months later it was even better and now that they are returning for round three with ‘Bad Dudes 3000’ the bar is even higher. Do they live up to the hype? Yes, yes they do.

‘Bad Dudes 3000’ pours into the glass a hazy, deep yellow. It has overpowering notes of fresh fruit with melon being the most predominate. The taste? Exceptional. The Strata hop really steals the show with a big melon flavor that gives way to a slight bitterness that lingers just so on the middle of your tongue. The Galaxy, Citra, and Ekuanot hops all play nicely with one another as supporting actors to the Strata. It is super smooth and has a surprisingly soft mouthfeel and coming it 8.5% ABV you’ll be halfway through the glass before you start to feel it. However, in the interest of full disclosure. You can synthesize this entire review down to just one word: Dank. The pour? Dank. The smell? Fruity, but dank. The taste? Very dank. Get yourself to Long Live and buy this beer.

Rhode Trip: Long Live Beerworks

(The first part in a multi-part series as we complete the Rhode Island Brewer’s Guild Passport to learn more about the passport and download the app click HERE)

A few weeks ago, I was able to get to Long Live Beerworks in order to get my passport stamped. While I have been to Long Live multiple times and they are one of my favorite Rhode Island Breweries, this was one of the first breweries I was able to attend as the Rhode Island COVID-19 restrictions began to loosen. While they are only open for outdoor seating it was still an amazing time.

The old location of Long Live was nice albeit a little small, however, their new location is a thing of beauty. To me, the hallmark of a great brewery is simple: “Does it feel like you are drinking at your friend’s house?” Long Live passes that test. While this visit I was outside I have been inside on multiple occasions and drinking at Long Live always feels like you are drinking at your friend’s upscale loft, especially when you are upstairs. The outside has a similar feeling of drinking on your friend’s patio, but each part has this amazing warm/friendly feeling. But enough about the aesthetics, let’s talk about the beer.

When I went, and unfortunately these offerings are no longer available, I was able to try ‘Neon Nightmare’ a sour explosion of tropical fruit. Raspberries, pineapple, tangerine, and vanilla are all present and it was absolutely exceptional. I was also able to try ‘Through These Eyes’ a double IPA that was crazy juicy, hazy, and very hoppy. The Lupin powder with the Galaxy hops gave the beer its distinct flavor with a subtle hint from the Rakau. Another awesome beer from an awesome brewery. I will definitely be back but here’s to one stamp down!  

Long Live Beerworks is located at 40R Sprague St. Providence, RI 02907. For more information about the brewery and their beer click HERE.

Ocean State Beer Fest

Yesterday was the Fourth Annual Ocean State Beer Fest and it was an absolutely amazing. I was lucky enough to attend two years ago and this year's was just as good. You can see my full samplings on Untappd but let me give you the highlights:

Best Beer: Inside Job, Buttonwoods Brewery. This was one of the first beers I wanted to try because 1. I love Buttonwoods and 2. it was listed as a creamsicle sour IPA. It was exceptional. Just the right amount of tart and hoppy that tasted like a creamsicle ice cream bar and my judgment was pretty spot on because of how fast it ran out. I was told that it was only brewed for this event but I hope they do this one again.
Honorable mentions: Fermented 4, Tilted Barn; Barrel Aged Wild Ale - Saison w/ Cherries, Grey Sail; Pineapple Vango, Foolproof

Best Brewery: Grey Sail. Always near the top of my list when I start talking about RI breweries. They really stepped up because they brought six different beers, two of which were at the top of my list and one was a cask (always a BIG fan of cask ales). I was able to try all of their offerings and neither myself nor my friends were disappointed. Already planning my day trip out to Westerly.
Honorable mentions: Tilted Barn, Buttonwoods, Foolproof, Taproot

Biggest Surprise: Taproot. Before yesterday I had never heard of this brewery before as they are not listed on the official Rhode Island Brewers Guild passport. I walked by and saw that they had a porter and was instantly curious. I struck up a conversation with their brewer Kevin and instantly heard his passion for brewing and while I was enjoying just how good the beer was. They also had a New England IPA that was brewed with Hefeweizen yeast that gave the beer this amazing banana taste that blended perfectly with the hops. I will definitely be making the trek out there as soon as possible.
Honorable mentions: Apponaug Brewing, Providence Brewing Company, Ragged Island

Most Unique Beer: Cereza Amarga, Providence Brewing Co. Listed as a MexiCali Light Lager this beer was described to me as a lager infused with tequila. It was actually brewed with cherries, guavas, and lemons that were sitting in Anejo Blanco for a couple of months but that drove the point home. This was a crisp, clean lager that finishes with a slight bite of agave. Definitely worth a trip to try it out.
Honorable mentions: 2 legit to frit, Proclamation; Fruits of Labor, Taproot; Kingston's finest, Shaidzon Beer Co.; Crimson Ghost, Long Live Beerworks

Most Disappointing: Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.. This one hurts to write as an avid fan/supporter. Newport Storm was the brewery that first got me excited about Rhode Island beer but their offerings at the festival just did not do it for me. Rhode Rage is far too malty for me, Comfortably Unaware did not have the same flair as the other New England IPA offerings and 1639 was pretty good but not great. I expected them to pull out all of the stops and bring something truly unique but alas, I was disappointed.

So that was the fourth annual Ocean State Beer Fest. I cannot wait for next year to see what new things the brewing community will bring. Did you attend? If you did how would you fill out your list of best beer, brewery, biggest surprise, most unique, and most disappointing? Comment below.